Happy New year USA from Moscow: Putin names United States among threats to Russia’s national security for the first time in new strategy

New appraisal names the United States as one of the threats to Russia’s national security for the first time

Document, ‘About the Strategy of National Security of Russian Federation’, was signed by President Vladimir Putin on New Year’s Eve

It says Russia has managed to heighten its role in solving global problems and international conflicts

That heightened role has caused a reaction by the West, it says

Document replaces a 2009 version, endorsed by then- President Dmitry Medvedev, which mentioned neither the United States nor NATO

A new appraisal names the United States as one of the threats to Russia’s national security for the first time, a sign of how relations with the west have deteriorated in recent years.

The document, ‘About the Strategy of National Security of Russian Federation’, was signed by President Vladimir Putin on New Year’s Eve.

It replaces a 2009 version, endorsed by then- President Dmitry Medvedev, the current prime minister, which mentioned neither the United States nor NATO.

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A new appraisal, signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin (pictured on New Year’s Eve), names the United States as one of the threats to Russia’s national security for the first time – a sign of how relations with the west have deteriorated in recent years

It says Russia has managed to heighten its role in solving global problems and international conflicts. That heightened role has caused a reaction by the West, it says.

‘The strengthening of Russia happens against the background of new threats to the national security, which has complex and interrelated nature,’ the document says.

Conducting an independent policy, ‘both international and domestic’ has caused ‘counteraction from the USA and its allies, which are striving to retain their dominance in global affairs.’

That in turn is likely to lead to ‘political, economical, military and informational pressure’ on Russia, the document says.’